This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research on operating room planning and scheduling. The authors evaluate the literature across multiple fields, including problem settings and technical features, to offer a diversified and detailed overview. They aim to identify significant trends and areas requiring future research. The review covers a wide range of topics, such as patient characteristics (elective and non-elective), performance measures (waiting time, utilization, financial criteria), decision levels (discipline, surgeon, patient), integration with other facilities, analysis types (combinatorial optimization, scenario analysis), solution techniques (mathematical programming, simulation, heuristics), and uncertainty incorporation. The paper highlights that most recent research focuses on elective patients, with a strong emphasis on waiting times and resource utilization. However, there is a gap between theoretical advancements and practical implementation, which needs further attention. The authors conclude by emphasizing the need for better integration with upstream and downstream processes, addressing uncertainty, and improving the applicability of research findings in real-world settings.This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research on operating room planning and scheduling. The authors evaluate the literature across multiple fields, including problem settings and technical features, to offer a diversified and detailed overview. They aim to identify significant trends and areas requiring future research. The review covers a wide range of topics, such as patient characteristics (elective and non-elective), performance measures (waiting time, utilization, financial criteria), decision levels (discipline, surgeon, patient), integration with other facilities, analysis types (combinatorial optimization, scenario analysis), solution techniques (mathematical programming, simulation, heuristics), and uncertainty incorporation. The paper highlights that most recent research focuses on elective patients, with a strong emphasis on waiting times and resource utilization. However, there is a gap between theoretical advancements and practical implementation, which needs further attention. The authors conclude by emphasizing the need for better integration with upstream and downstream processes, addressing uncertainty, and improving the applicability of research findings in real-world settings.